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The best senior dog food for providing your older pup with nutritious, easy-to-eat meals

Though you want to be more mindful about the foods your dog eats as they get older, it does not mean you have to get into expensive meal prepping plans that require a lot of time and energy. Instead, you can find different varieties of senior dog foods that will benefit your dog. If you have more particular needs that you need help with, your veterinarian will give you some great tips that are more personalized to your dog.

Senior dogs differ from younger dogs in many ways that cause them to need a different diet. Due to their age, they tend to be less active. They are also at a higher risk for diseases like kidney disease, heart disease, or high blood pressure. One of the more surprising facts about senior dogs is that they are more likely to be prone to dehydration. All of these shifts in a senior dog’s body should be accounted for when buying their food.

Purina One Senior Dry Dog Food

Best Pellets Variety

Purina One Senior Dry Dog Food is designed to be a protein-rich and nutritious meal for all types of senior dogs. The meaty morsels are interspersed with crunchy kibble bits, so your dog will get an easy-to-eat texture with a familiar taste that they love. The nutrition in these tasty morsels will promote your dog’s immune system, digestion, and muscles.

Blue Buffalo Senior Dry Dog Food

Best With Lifesource Bits

When you want a meaty and healthy bite for your dog, the Blue Buffalo Senior Dry Dog Food is perfect for your bowl. These also contain LifeSource Bits, which are a mix of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that are selected by veterinarians and nutritionists to support a senior dog’s bodily demands. It helps boost your dog’s immune systems and give them a healthy oxidative balance.

Iams Senior Dry Dog Food

Best Value

Dog owners can relax from the stress of buying the right kind of senior dog food when they get a pack of Iams Senior Dry Dog Food. This affordable bag of dog food proactively improves your senior dog’s health. It is full of antioxidants, key nutrients, and prebiotics that promote joint health and digestion. The first ingredient of this dog food is chicken, so you’ll know that your dog is getting enough protein for their development.

As our pets grow older, we want to make sure we are taking care of them in the best ways they can. These formulated senior dog foods will promote their health and keep them happy while they are still running around in your life.

PawTracks Contributor
PawTracks Contributor
Is crate training necessary? There are pros and cons on both sides
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A yellow Labrador retriever puppy lying on a red bed inside a wire crate.

Crate training is one of the most polarizing topics among pet parents, with some claiming that keeping your pup in a crate for any length of time is cruel and may lead to behavioral problems, aggression, and separation anxiety. On the flip side, many pet parents, veterinarians, and dog trainers recommend crate training as a way to keep your pup safe from harm when you're not at home. Is crate training necessary? We'll not only tackle both sides of this complicated issue once and for all, but we'll also share how to potty-train a puppy without a crate. Here's what you should know. 

The case against crate training
According to some pet parents, crate training is "lazy training." Opponents believe some people take the easy way out and crate their pups instead of training them properly. One of the main arguments is that dogs are social animals and require attention and physical affection to form a solid bond with their human family members. And we're inclined to agree with certain aspects of these arguments against crating dogs. When used as a supplementary form of training, crating can be invaluable, but it shouldn't be used in place of training your dog.

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Although St. Bernards, Mastiffs, and several other large breeds are known for their tendency to drool, it may be quite a shock if your usually drool-free pup suddenly starts to salivate. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place if you find yourself asking, "Why is my dog drooling?"
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Why is my dog drooling and is sudden or excessive drooling a cause for concern?
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What is dog splooting? You're sure to recognize it when you see it
This one is for all the yogis out there: Dog splooting looks an awful lot like Sphinx pose! When a dog is in this position, they’re lying on their stomach with their back legs straight out behind them instead of tucked under their body.
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